Every homeowner wants to get the biggest impact possible out of their home improvements. Whether you’re looking to make a move in the near future or are planning on staying put for years to come, it’s comforting to know that your investment of time and money is worth the effort, that the work you’re doing will add value to your home.

With that in mind, we decided to take the issue to the experts. We asked the leading minds in real estate to tell us which home improvement projects are set to have the best return on investment (ROI) in 2018. Read on below to see what they had to say and to learn where in your home your sweat equity will ultimately have the biggest impact.

Expect smart home technologies to start popping up everywhere. Image: Honeywell Home

1. Smart home technologies

“According to the most recent Luxury Portfolio Global Luxury Real Estate Report, 76% of buyers agree: Having a ‘smart home’ is very important to me. In particular, safety is a top concern. Of those surveyed, 39% are looking for a convenient, centralized network that securely controls smart-home and internet connections; aka the ability to operate a home security system through a mobile device.” — Stephanie Anton, EVP of Luxury Portfolio International

2. Outdoor living space

“According to a recent survey, 51% of home buyers find outdoor living space the most attractive quality when searching for their perfect home, more so than open floor plans and curb appeal. As such, outdoor spaces are becoming an ideal investment, not only for current homeowners’ enjoyment, but also for sellers looking to bring added value to a home for future sale.” — Joe Raboine, National Design & Training Specialist for Belgard in Atlanta

3. Maximizing energy efficiency

“Making energy-efficient upgrades will give you more bang for your buck in 2018. When thinking of energy efficiency, people often go straight to solar panels. However, smaller changes like upgrading your HVAC, water heater, or windows can also cut energy costs — resulting in an accumulation of savings over time. You can even make improvements as simple as adding solar-powered lighting to your front yard, which will help increase overall savings.” — Sacha Ferrandi, Founder of Source Capital Funding Inc., San Diego

4. Modernized bathrooms

“Modern bathroom trends are staying the same in 2018 as in 2017. Clean lines with rustic touches. Adding grays into the color scheme is also very popular right now and most consider this the greatest non-offensive tone to go choose from. (Beige is out.) Be careful, though, buyers like a very light gray. Some darker grays can come across as purple in certain lights.” — Sotereas (Teris) Pantazes, CEO & Founder of EFynch in Baltimore

5. Refreshed finishes

“Not all renovations have to be huge. I like to suggest that homeowners update their finishes before they go to sell because it’s not always easy for buyers to visualize the potential of a space. If a space is really run down and a buyer thinks that he will have to redo everything, it’s easy to either over or underestimate the cost to achieve what it could look like. Older finishes also eliminate a big chunk of the buyers out there who just aren’t willing to do the work.” — Ori Goldman, CEO of Loftey in New York City

Home improvements can be a bit of a gamble. On the one hand, while you’re living in the space, it’s only natural to want to create a space you’ll enjoy. On the other, if you intend to sell, you also want to make changes that appeal to buyers. That’s why we asked the pros to help you weigh the risks. They told us which home improvements will probably have the best ROI in 2018, so you can make sure to get the most bang for your buck.

What do you think of these home improvements? If you were a buyer, would they sway your opinion on whether or not to buy the home? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.